EARLY ONE MORNING.........................
Cllr Alan Dean
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Stansted North on Uttlesford District Council and former Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group Learn more
A DISHONEST COUNCIL IN DECLINE, A CHINK OF COMPASSION TINGED WITH AUTHORITARIAN RULE (PART I OF III)
AIRPORT PLANNING DEBACLE CONTINUED - WITH £££££ STILL TO PAY
EARLY ONE MORNING.........................
A DISHONEST COUNCIL IN DECLINE, A CHINK OF COMPASSION TINGED WITH AUTHORITARIAN RULE (PART I OF III)
AIRPORT PLANNING DEBACLE CONTINUED - WITH £££££ STILL TO PAY
Safety on foot along Church Road, Stansted
by Alan Dean on 3 March, 2011
People on Mountfitchet Estate and Foresthall Park want Church Road, Stansted made safer for pedestrians. The key expectations of residents are to have pavements where there is none and a zebra crossing.
This point, at the end of Maitland Road, is where a pedestrian crossing would help people cross busy Church Road with safety-
The wooded area betweeen Maitland Road and Mountfitchet Road is ideal for a woodland trail as part of the a new, metalled pavement on the west side of Church Road –
The pathway could continue past Mountfitchet Road and run parallel to Church Road through or by the trees –
Past the footpath to Manor Road the route widens out in front of several homes. With only minor disturbance to some residents’ shrubs, the footway could continue here –
The final section to Walson Way crosses a bridleway coming from Foresthall Park and would follow between the road and a stream to the existing pavement at Walson Way –
There is another issue; a pavement between Jordon Close and Walson Way. I have been pursuing this with Essex County Council since last September. With the new St. Mary’s Primary School due to be opened in September 2012, these public safety issues are becoming more pressing.
Another improvement needed to Church Road is the narrow and bent section by the railway bridge. Help may be partly at hand. The developers of Castle Cars site, where a new health centre and retail complex is proposed, are willing to extend the narrow section of pavement shown below on a cantilever into their site. This could be the first stage of widening the section of road on both sides of the bridge. The bridge is already wide enough for a wider road and better pavement –
This is about what residents of Stansted want. On with the campaign!
7 Comments
Creating a footpath along the other side of Church Road would be an immense improvement. In the nine years in which I have lived there the road has become steadily busier. With the construction of the new estate and the likely move of the primary school pedestrian traffic is increasing too. Speed limits are routinely ignored and below MMCC there is no safe crossing point for adults or children. It’s amazing there have not been more serious injuries, but the risk becomes steadily higher.
I endorse all of the Councillor’s suggestions, particularly building a path between Jordon Close and Walson Way.
The volume of traffic on Church Rd appears to be on the increase, and I am unconvinced that the new speed warning at the junction of Foresthall is reducing speeds. I would therefore encourage the Councillor to give further thought to speed control – although I accept that a pedestrian crossing should help. The crossing should be very well lit as this stretch of road is particularly dark in the evenings.
An improved footpath on either the west side (as suggested) or east side (?) of Church Road would be very welcome. I agree with the previous comments – vehicles often speed down that stretch of Church Road, there are no crossing points (between Lower St/MMCC) and it is poorly lit in some places at night. Access from Jordon Close to Walson Way must also be resolved. I hope the Councillor can pursue these issues – many people would benefit.
A new crossing near Maitland Road would, I’m sure, be helpful and *may* help to reduce speeds (although the new mini roundabout certainly hasn’t). Having walked Church Road with a pram, then a double buggy and now two young children, any improvements to the pavement would also be welcome. I think the proposed new footpath would have difficulty in front of some homes on Church Road (including my own) as there’s very little space between the property boundaries and the road itself.
I agree with proposals to lower the speeds of the traffic on Church Rd and to make it easier for pedestrians. I think the proposal of a pathway on this side of church rd is not practical as there is very little space between the houses and the road around Acorns/Oakdene/Churchillian/The Hollies. I am not sure what the staement “With only minor disturbance to some residents’ shrubs” means.
A better proposal would be to build a pedestrian crossing from the pathway coming out of the new estate just passed Churchillian and then use the existing pathway to gain access to Stansted town. If possible widen the existing one slightly. This will be a cheaper option and cause no disturbance to people’s shrubs 🙂
A new crossing near Maitland Road and improved footpaths on Church Road seem very necessary – plus, I agree with the above comments regarding the poorly lit stretch on Church Road at night – all that is needed is one more street lamp.
[…] A growing number of people from both the Foresthall Park and Mountfitchet estates have told me that a new pavement and pedestrian crossing are needed as soon as possible along this stretch of Church Road. The latest they are needed is summer 2012 in time for the new primary school at Foresthall Park. See my original post. […]